Should You Work With Resin in the Cold?

The winter isn't the most ideal time to be working on resin-bound projects but in time-sensitive cases, you may not have a choice! There are a lot of issues that can arise out of trying to work with resin in the cold, but if you know how to combat them then you may find some success in your resin projects. In this blog, we'll be highlighting some of the key issues you may face and how you might overcome them.

Resin becomes thicker (less viscous) when it becomes cold. When your resin becomes too thick it's much more difficult to work with and can slow down your whole process. The best way to combat this is to keep your resin warm (room temperature) before you use it, this can make the whole process a lot smoother for you, and your team, and give a better finish for the client. Try and leave the resin in the van or in a heated room/area to maintain the temperatures.

Cold temperatures will impact how effective resin is at curing as it affects the exothermic (self-heating) reaction that it needs to complete in order to cure properly. A great way to combat this is to get your hands on some catalysts. Adding an additional catalyst will speed up the setting action. Getting the ratios just right will ensure that the surface cures properly and efficiently. If you're unsure where to source this then please don't hesitate to get in touch with us - we're always happy to help however we can!

Check the recommended installation temperatures from your resin manufacturer. Beware of the differences in air temperature and ground temperatures and how this affects areas of the installation in the sun or shade. Humidity (the level of moisture in the air) can be much higher in the colder weather so if available use a hygrometer to monitor.

It's absolutely vital that you avoid moisture getting in the mix or forming on the surface before the curing process has happened. Moisture reacts with the resin to form a whitening on the surface of the installation. This can happen consistently across the whole surface or could form in areas of shade or where the last few mixes haven’t had sufficient time to cure prior to dew forming on the surface.

#Different resins have different tolerances to moisture and temperature so it's best to get familiar and confident with the characteristics of your resin and beware of differences that occur if not using your usual manufacturer. Ensure sufficient catalyst is used and think about what time the installation will be done during the day to ensure the surface has time to cure prior to the dew forming.

Even if you ensure the process with some of these steps, you may experience some other adverse effects to working with resin in the cold. It makes it very difficult to spazzle over a surface prior to trowelling. If you use a sledge then the resin may not flow through the sledge effectively so that

it gives an even layer before trowelling. Ensure you have sufficient materials to cover the entire area and consider taking additional mixes should some areas go down slightly thicker than the normal depths.

Beware of the recommended conditions of storage of your resin. Should you leave them uncovered in cold temperatures say in the back of a tipper or van then this could potentially affect the performance of the product depending on the manufacturer. Some resins can split or crystalise. Keep it in a suitable place so that the resin is stored in line with the manufacturer's storage recommendations.

In summary, it's very possible to work with resin in the winter, but you need to ensure you're taking all the necessary steps to ensure a successful project. Temperature and moisture are your biggest contenders when trying to execute resin projects outside, but with these tips, you'll be able to combat them and get some brilliant work done. If you have any questions, queries or concerns about anything at all then please don't hesitate to get in touch! We're always happy to help.

The winter isn't the most ideal time to be working on resin-bound projects but in time-sensitive cases, you really don't have a choice! There are a lot of issues that can arise out of trying to work with resin in the cold, but if you know how to combat them then you may find some success in your resin projects. In this blog, we'll be highlighting some of the key issues you may face and how you might overcome them.

Resin is incredibly sticky and tacky so when it becomes cold, that quality is only exemplified. When your resin becomes too sticky it's incredibly difficult to work with and will slow down your whole process. The best way to combat this is to heat your resin before you use it. Keeping your equipment stored in a well-heated area and heating it directly before use can make the whole process a lot smoother for you, your team, and the client.

Cold temperatures can impact how effective resin is at curing as it affects the exothermic (self-heating) reaction that it needs to complete in order to cure properly. A great way to combat this is to get your hands on some fast hardener. Getting the ratios just right will ensure that you're able to properly pour your resin while also ensuring it cures properly and efficiently. If you're unsure where to source this then please don't hesitate to get in touch with your account manager - we're always happy to help however we can!

For previously stated reasons, the resin is particularly troublesome to work with in low temperatures. This also means it makes it more difficult to create your resin mixtures. If you're mixing stuff into your resin then you need to ensure that you're mixing properly in a heated area before proceeding to pour. It's always important to properly mix your resin solutions but it's extra important in the winter as the mixtures may have thickened up. Take a few extra minutes to ensure you're getting into all the corners and mixing really well. Using a smaller tub to do your mixing may also aid this process so we recommend doing that when you can!

It's absolutely vital that you keep your equipment, tools and area dry and free of moisture. This is particularly difficult during the winter but there are a few methods you can adopt to overcome this. First of all, ensure that all your tools are free of outside moisture. Secondly, erect a tent over your worksite - this will need to be discussed with your client, of course, but is pretty essential to the successful completion of a project. Thirdly, heat any materials that may be holding moisture before you pour your epoxy. Finally, it's good to get in the habit of creating a little hotbox with insulation materials that you can store your resin and tools in to avoid them getting too cold and building moisture.

Even if you ensure the process with some of these steps, you may experience some other adverse effects to working with resin in the cold. It makes it very difficult to layer resin. One of the things you can expect from applying resin to a cold surface in cold weather is for the resin to develop an "amine blush" which occurs from the slowed curing process and moisture collection. This effect can be wiped away and should be washed off with fresh water. Once it's dried, sand the surface of the resin and you should be okay to apply another layer of resin on top if need be.

When you don't store your resin in a warm place, your resin mixtures could potentially develop crystals. This is less than ideal, but it doesn't render your resin unusable. If you suspect that your resin has crystallised then you can check with a torch! Just shine a lot at the bottle and you should be able to see solid matter in the bottle, which usually sinks to the bottom. Heating the mixture causes the crystals to melt which means it should be good to use once they've melted!

In summary, it isn't impossible to work with resin in the winter, but you need to ensure you're taking all the necessary steps to ensure a successful project. Temperature and moisture are your biggest contenders when trying to execute resin projects outside, but with these tips, you'll be able to combat them and get some brilliant work done - just remember to send us your pictures!

If you have any questions, queries or concerns about anything at all then please don't hesitate to get in touch! We're always happy to help.